There was an average of 898 patients a day in hospital with the virus in the week ending 19 January, up by 15% on the week before and 30% up year-on-year.

Flu admissions fell by 21% on the week before to a daily average of 3,019, but still a third up year-on-year.

There was also an average of 995 patients a day in hospital with Covid-19, and 28 children with RSV – down from 29 last week but 41% higher than the 20 patients last year.

Pressure on hospital capacity remained high with an average of 96% adult beds occupied and a total of 97,567 patients in hospital each day.

There was also an average of 13,426 patients in hospital each day despite being medically fit for discharge, taking up more than one in seven available beds.

Emergency services continued to manage high levels of demand with 91,275 ambulances arriving at A&E, similar to last year (90,079). Despite this, the total hours lost to handover delays (22,413) was down around a third (33,480) on the same week in 2024.

 Professor Julian Redhead, national clinical director for Urgent and Emergency Care, said: ‘It is welcome news that the number of patients in hospital with Covid and flu continued to fall last week, however, the worrying surge in norovirus cases – now at their highest level so far this winter – means there is no let up for NHS staff.

‘Hospitals remain close to capacity, with almost a fifth of beds filled due to seasonal viruses and delayed discharges to settings like social and community care.'

Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, said: ‘Hospitals up and down the country are continuing to grapple with challenging conditions, and I know NHS staff are feeling significant pressure as they work hard for patients.

‘The broken NHS system we inherited has meant too many people have suffered unacceptable standards of care this winter, but we are steadfast in our commitment to turn that around as we deliver the reforms required through our Plan for Change.'

You can find the latest NHS statistics here.